Their words: reviews, comments, and farewells.
Review for I’m Sorry, I’m Sorry
“New York’s Rosemary Foley has written a contemporary comedy so funny it’s serious. In a play that starts where most men stop, suburban mundanity meets thoroughly modern mayhem….”
(From the International Festival of New Works, first-prize winner, 1990)
Review for The Kerry Dancers
“The dark history of this Irish-American family swirls around the daughter in search of answers from long ago. Rich in language and imagery, Ms Foley captures the Irish experience in the time of the beginning of the Great Depression.”
(Urban Stages, director’s comments, play program, May 3, 1999)
“Some people just can’t help it—they have to translate life into dialogue. Such a person is Rosemary Foley who sees comedy all around her. The Pelham playwright recently won two playwriting contests. Zoning In, a satire about reality television shows, was chosen along with nine other 10-minute plays for ‘Ten by Ten,’ a short-play festival in Kinderhook, NY. And her Holy Wars, a comedy about religious fanaticism, was chosen as one of the best one-act plays of the year by the Theatre Artists Workshop of East Norwalk, Connecticut."
(New York Times, April 29, 2001)
• “I find her plays always amusing.” [Frances Sternhagen, actress]
• “We relished the unpredictability. The characters have distinctive, compelling voices.” [Abingdon Theatre, New York]
• “Rich in language and imagery.” `[Urban Stages, New York]
• “Rosemary sees comedy all around her.” [New York Times]
• “She can find the absurd in almost every situation.” [NYC Director ]
• 'Keeps her audience on the edge of their seats.” [The Hour, Norwalk, CT]
• “This play (First Ladies Reunion) turns the sometimes-dry subject of history upside-down and brings it into the kitchen.” [NY Times]
• “Her play (Leaving Her) was a laugh-out-loud piece.” [Colorado Springs GAZETTE]
When I think of Rosemary, I think of someone who simply refused to let any of us settle—for easy answers, conventional wisdom, self-pity, or lives smaller than the ones we were capable of living.
As co-director of WYAT, with Lenka Peterson, Rosemary challenged us constantly: to question everything, to be more creative, to take risks, and most importantly, to become more fully ourselves. Lenka nurtured us and helped us believe in ourselves. Rosemary challenged us and made sure we never became complacent. What a remarkable combination they were.
One of my clearest memories of Rosemary comes from one of the lowest points in my young life. I had broken up with my long-term boyfriend, Cliff, dropped out of law school, and moved back into my parents' home. Convinced that my life was over, I took to my bed and wouldn't come out.
My parents must have called Rosemary in desperation, because she soon appeared at our house. She listened for a while and then, in no uncertain terms, told me to get out of bed and get on with my life. I particularly remember her telling me that I was being unfair to my future boyfriends. Somehow, that cut through all my misery. Of course I listened to her. And of course I never forgot it.
So many of us carry her influence with us still. She was a mentor, an inspiration, a provocateur, and a force of nature. For those of us fortunate enough to know her, her voice still echoes in our minds whenever we are tempted to play it safe or settle for less than our best selves.
Thank you, Rosemary. You changed our lives.
(Barbara Finamore - friend and theater student)
My life in Pelham changed forever when I met your Rosemary. Her total irreverence was something I hadn’t as a British woman encountered; but oh my god did I need it in my life. She was a joy and lots of other things but mostly a great friend who I adored.
(Irene - friend)
I was grateful to her for being such a good friend. She was a unique and vivid person who always managed to be truly herself. I am reminded of the fun we had together with parties and theater and music. I am grateful to her for always helping me to see the best in other people.
(Ann - friend)
In our teenage years with WYAT she opened the door to our imagination, invention, and possibility. She celebrated our individuality. She sparked joy in all of us.
I learned more about comedy in one afternoon rehearsing with Rosemary than I'd learned in 50 years as a professional actor. To act in her plays is pure joy - the humor and humanity of her characters carry you - it is theatrical white water rafting.
I cherished her mentorship and her friendship. I cherish my memories of her. Her joy lives in my heart.
Glynnis O'Connor(actor, mentee, friend)
“C’mere,” she’d say to me; clutching me by my shirt to bring me closer to her, directing me in a play she had written. She’d passionately hold me and say something like, “Listen, you love her. You love the way she feels, the way she looks, the way she smells, you love everything about her, you understand?” That's the way she was when she was directing you in one of her plays. TOTAL PASSION...(as you well know, Tom, because you did the film for her short play, “Oh, promise me.”
I’ll Never forget the first night we did it as a play for the Theater Artist Workshop in Westport. The audience was laughing so hard we had to stop almost every line until the audience quieted down. So Rosemary decidedI guess with you- to make it into a movie. The cast included Allan Zeller, Carolyn Marble, Nadine Willig and Frances Sternhagen, a friend of Rosemary’s, who played my mother-in-law in the movie version and was the most gracious person. The movie, by the way, won an award for best short comic movie at a film festival.
And then we included it in a festival which was held by an organization I belonged to called Polaris North. There were several other of Rosemary’s short plays in that venue. I acted in it and co-produced it with your father Bill. What a gentleman he was! He worshipped and adored your mother and did everything he could to help her career. I remember the first rehearsal we had. I think it was in Pelham at the Pelham Cultural Center or something like that. We, of course, had already done it as a play, but Frances Sternhagen was new to the game and right after I was introduced to her she said to me and I'll never forget it, ”Oh Bob, I'm so glad to meet you. Would you do me a favor? Could we run the lines because I'm not sure of them?” She was a theatrical and film star but had no pretensions and very down to earth, just like any other actor coming onto a gig and not feeling sure of herself. It was a delightful experience!
I knew that Rosemary had grown up in Chicago and I too spent years there. I studied acting there and I only recently learned that Rosemary's experience had many tie-ins to mine. Evidently she was part of Second City and worked with Viola Spolin and Paul Sills. They were also my first acting teachers.
I’ll miss the times and laughs we shared. She was a blessing.
I’ll never forget her.
With warm condolences,
Bob Adrian (friend and actor)
I met Rosemary when I joined Theatre Artists Workshop in early 2019. I had brought in a play, knew no one, and had no idea how this workshop "worked," but I was there and ready to find out.
Rosemary was somehow assigned to read the stage directions. I didn't know her from Eve. At the table read, she started reading the opening stage directions, then trailed off, looked at me, and said, "Oh no... oh no... this is too much. You need to cut this down. I can't read all this."
It quickly became obvious that it would be a hilarious disaster if Rosemary read the stage directions. My play was being read at the meeting in about a half hour, there was no time to make significant changes, and frankly, I didn't want to. I remember thinking, Uh-oh... who is this lady, and now what do I do?
I decided to kindly tell her that if she didn't want to read them, it was no problem. I would read the stage directions myself. It turned out to be all for the best. She was then able to sit in the audience, give me feedback, and really see me and what I had written.
Afterward, she came up to me and said, "I've never been fired from reading stage directions before. Keep going, girl!"
With lightning speed, we became fast friends, and I was fortunate to become one of her frequent collaborators."
We locked into each other comedically and personally. We just got each other's humor, and we worked on countless pieces together. She took me out to Luigi's in Black Rock and she ordered the chicken piccata pasta with no sauce, just butter.
"This is all I ever order," she told me. Then she added, "I don't really eat."
She was delightfully entertaining. We had an instant connection. We made each other laugh a lot.
When COVID hit, our relationship only strengthened. Through frequent phone calls, long talks, collaborations, and Zoom workshop meetings performing her plays, we had a lot of fun. I was told by several people how rare it was for Rosemary to let anyone collaborate with her on her writing. That felt like an honor, especially once I realized what an amazing, prolific, and beloved writer she was. I think, in a large way, our new, special friendship made some really difficult pandemic days a little lighter.
I directed two of her plays for Theatre Artists Workshop's new play festivals that took place over Zoom, and they were so much fun to rehearse and record and edit that, in the process, I pretty much peed my pants laughing uncontrollably.
As we emerged from COVID, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Rosemary's son William on a wonderful festival celebrating her legacy with some of her best plays. What began as a live festival eventually became a filmed production, preserving and sharing Rosemary's work with an even wider audience.
It was deeply moving to see her family, friends, and fellow artists all gathered together to celebrate Rosemary and her brilliant body of work. It was a joy to help bring those stories to life and another gift that grew out of my friendship with Rosemary.
Another unexpected gift was the friendship that emerged with Rosemary's children, whom she often talked about with great pride.
In the years that followed, I visited Rosemary in memory care. Sometimes by myself, sometimes with dear friends of Rosemary, guided by Lisa, her amazing caregiver.
Those visits were precious and profound. Rosemary was still there in certain ways, her laughter, her joyous clapping and spontaneous delight, the funny, brilliant, mischievous woman I had come to love so much. We sang songs to her, and she sometimes sang along. It was wonderful.
I remember one particular visit. She stared at me, a long, hard stare. Her eyes were starting to well up slightly as they searched my eyes. With a sudden burst of astonishment and recognition, she said, "Oh! Oh... Yes. Yes." She nodded her head and smiled slightly.
Then she sat back, satisfied, as we continued our visit. I loved Rosemary, and I felt genuinely loved by her. What a gift. How lucky I am to have had that relationship. I saved all of her voicemails.
One day, I went for a walk feeling particularly alone and down. I thought of Rosemary. I pulled out my phone and started listening to her messages. I hadn't done that in over a year.
"...Love you, bye!"
"...Call me back, darling. Bye!"
The day following a Workshop performance: "Oh, you were just unbelievably brilliant last night. I have another play I want to run by you. Call me back. Bye!" And countless more.
As I walked, I said out loud, "I love you, Rosemary. I love you."
That day was May 25th, 2026.
A few hours after my walk, I got a call from her son Tom telling me that Rosemary had passed away. Not long after I told her, and the universe, that I loved her.
I like to think she heard me.
Andrea Lynn Green
(Actor, Director, Playwright, Friend)
Life is Improv
For Rosemary
All the world's a stage.
(There is no script.)
Yes, the blocking is set,
and the curtain rises daily.
The fortunate ones learn early,
we're making it up as we go along.
Each the center of a universe,
and a walk-on to all others…
Make Life entertaining.
There's two kinds of thinking.
Fast, and slow.
Fast is Eureka. Realization.
(The heart of improv games.)
Slow is reflection.
(Watering the plants. Again.)
Rote's a rut.
Kvetch with class.
Choose what you chew.
Share your thoughts,
lest they die alone.
Read to ingest Truth,
and find Truth in jest.
Rosemary's dialog was
playfully mischievous,
the good wicked,
which was her gift.Life is a gift, made better by giving
of self.
Discoveries are made by
fortunate accidents.
As are we all.
I am fortunate to have known her,
and you,
by a series of circuitous incidents.
It's all just happening.
Enjoy the ride.
"Curiosity killed the cat,
but satisfaction brought it back."
Don't overlook the satisfaction.
Improvisation… improving the day.
(Hervé - friend)
Rosemary's talent, humor, honesty, friendship, and unwavering commitment to all of us, along with Lenka, helped shape WYAT into something far more than a theater group. She helped create a community that has lasted a lifetime.
(WYAT)
I remember how real she was; didn't hold back. I remember she directed and produced a show called Punch & Judy. I believe what shocked me was that it was a bit perverted, lol, that's when I knew she's a comic genius. Whenever she had an idea and asked if I would be interested, it was hard to say no to her. Better yet, she wouldn't let you say no. Later on many years later, she directed a show and asked if I would participate. I couldn’t say no. It was about a women who falls in love with this guy named Manuel; I believe from Spain. The woman convinces her friends to travel and meet him. She was played by a woman named Mariette, which I knew from high school, she was cute. So now we meet again in this show and she sees I'm Manuel playing in a venue. Finally, Rosemary say, “Come on! You have to kiss.” So we kiss. Rosemary screams, “You call that acting! I want to see a real kiss. Grab her. Put your tongue in her mouth!” And there we were sloppy kissing all over the stage. She loved every minute of it. Me too. Turns out in the play that Manuel, on behalf of his grandmother who was the owner of the venue, would go on line and flirt with women so they would come to Spain and go to the venue and bring more business. Great comedy! Thanks Rosemary, you were the best RIP
(Chris CIntron - recording artist, musician and family friend)